Gambhir Backs Sai Sudharsan for Number Three Role Ahead of Afghanistan Test, Reaffirms India's WTC Ambitions

Addressing the media during the pre-match press conference on Friday, Gambhir said Sudharsan deserved a longer run in the side and should not be judged on a limited number of appearances.

"Sai Sudharsan hasn't got a fair chance. He played in England. We will give him a longer rope," Gambhir said.

Emphasising the importance of patience in developing players, the India coach pointed to Sudharsan's recent performances and strong form.

"We can only pick 11 players and Sai isn't in bad form. He scored 700 runs in the IPL. If we judge Sai on the basis of four or five games, we will never be able to build something," he added.

The number three position has remained a major concern for India in Test cricket since Cheteshwar Pujara moved out of the side. Although Pujara announced his retirement in 2025, his final Test appearance for India came in the World Test Championship final in 2023.

Since Pujara's departure, India have experimented with seven different batters at the one-drop position, but none have been able to establish themselves permanently. Several players were also not provided with a prolonged run in the role.

Shubman Gill enjoyed the longest stint at number three before shifting to number four after taking over as India's Test captain following the retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the format.

Following Gill's move, Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal have all been tried at number three.

India's 2-0 home series defeat to South Africa further exposed the uncertainty surrounding the position. Sundar was promoted to number three during the first Test at Eden Gardens but was moved back down the order after India's batting struggled.

Sudharsan returned to the role in the second Test at Guwahati against South Africa but managed scores of 15 and 14. The left-handed batter has played six Test matches so far and maintains an average of just over 27.

Despite India's current position of sixth in the World Test Championship standings with 48.15 per cent of points, Gambhir expressed confidence in the team's ability to challenge for the title.

"We believe that we can win the WTC. There is talent and hunger in this team," Gambhir said.

Responding to concerns over the quick transition from the Indian Premier League to Test cricket, Gambhir dismissed any suggestion of disadvantage and stressed the importance of mental strength in the longer format.

"There are no excuses. Test matches are about mental toughness," he said.

The upcoming Test against Afghanistan will not only provide Sai Sudharsan with another opportunity to secure India's long-vacant number three position but will also serve as an important step in the team's efforts to revive its World Test Championship campaign and reaffirm its ambitions on the international stage.